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Andy Boy
Birth name	Anthony Boyd
Born	November 10, 1904 Galveston, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Texas blues
Occupation(s)	Pianist, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Piano
Years active	1930s

Andy Boy (November 10, 1904 – unknown) was an American Texas blues pianist and songwriter. He was part of the 'Santa Fe Group', a loose ensemble of black blues pianists who played in the many juke joints abutting the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

Little is documented of his life outside of his recording career.

Life and career

Anthony Boyd was born in 1904, in Galveston, Texas, United States.

He had a similar playing style to Rob Cooper and Robert Shaw. Shaw recalled meeting Burks and stated about him "Connie Burks, a dark fellow, about my size, maybe a little thicker than me. When I met him, he couldn't play, so I showed him some. Three years later, when I was in Richmond again, he played better than me".

All of Burks's recordings were collated on the compilation album, San Antonio Blues 1937, released in 1994 by Document Records.

Santa Fe Group

The 'Santa Fe Group', otherwise known as the 'Texas Santa Fe' style of piano playing, referenced an association with the Santa Fe Railroad tracks. In the 1920s and 1930s, there were numerous juke joints alongside the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, in which various black pianists performed in a similar manner. The style was a blend of dance music, boogie-woogie, ragtime and blues. Performers included Andy Boy, Pinetop Burks, ]Rob Cooper, Robert Shaw, and Black Boy Shine, who were all recorded, although many others were not. The style is more broadly defined when referring to a map of Houston. The Santa Fe style was known as emanating from the Fourth Ward. Lightnin' Hopkins, conversely, was a Third Ward bluesman, while George Washington Thomas was an example of a Fifth Ward pianist, with a different playing style.

See also

• List of Texas blues musicians

External links

b. c.1906, Galveston, Texas, US. One of a group of Texas blues piano players that included Rob Cooper and Robert Shaw, Boy worked the seaport towns of the southern coast, including Houston and Galveston. His playing has touches of older ragtime styles as well as blues, as can be heard from his excellent accompaniments for the smooth vocals of Houston singer Joe Pullum, but his best work is the set of eight recordings he made for Bluebird Records in San Antonio in 1937, notably the beautiful ‘Church Street Blues’. He also accompanied Walter Cowboy Washington at the same session. He was last heard of in the 50s, in Kansas City, where he had relocated around the time of World War II.

Long time it was thought that the name of pianist Andy Boy was his real name. But Michael Hortig found out that his name was Anthony Boyd, born 10 November 1904 in Galveston. He had some entries in newspaper clippings from the 1920s, before he was accused of having attempted to kill his wife. An interesting read, that during a police raid at a bar, owned by Mr. Charles Shiro, several men were arrested due to illegal gambling. Boyd described that same raid in his "House Raid Blues", recorded a few months later. Shaw remembers him as: "He was a little fellow, just a little older than me. He was the top kicker of Galveston". Only a few clues in his recordings seem to have biographical character: 'I have been born on Church Street'. Of all in the group, he was really the top player. Ragtime, blues and jazz elements in the left hand were combined with runs or incredible chord clusters in the right hand. He also accompanied Joe Pullum on eleven titles on August 13, 1935. He also accompanied Walter "Cowboy" Washington on four sides, recorded on February, 24, 1937. He left shortly afterwards for Oklahoma, rumors had him in Kansas City in the mid 1950s, and Buster Pickens told Paul Oliver in 1960, that he still lives in New York but no trace of him could be found. In his "Church Street Blues", he only wanted to go: 'to that good old seaport town, where we all had fun and stomped the grinder down'.

Legacy

Bill Wyman chose Walter "Cowboy" Washington's recording of "Ice Pick Mama", with piano accompaniment from Andy Boy, as one of the tracks on the compilation album, Bill Wyman's Blues Odyssey (2002).

Confusion

His 'stage name' is not to be confused with the brand name used by the California-based D'Arrigo Brothers, for their range of fresh vegetables.

Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Blues rock
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Various including Jesilu Records
Website	Official website

Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps is an American blues rock band. Their musical career includes recordings with Walter Trout, Eric Burdon, Spencer Davis, Tommy Castro, Stephen Bruton, Randy Newman, Lee Roy Parnell, and Neil Diamond, plus concert performances with Marcia Ball, Levon Helm, Delbert McClinton, and Eric Burdon & the Animals. They have appeared on McClinton's Sandy Beaches Cruise for more than two decades.

Twelve albums have been released, since their debut with The Whole Enchilada in 1998.

Career

In 2022, Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 was nominated for the Libera Award for Best Blues Record.

In 2019, Here in Babylon was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1, the band's new release on Blue Heart Records, continues that proud tradition. It’s their 12th album. A coterie of Texas guitar greats guest on the set, including Anson Funderburgh, Lee Roy Parnell, Johnny Lee Schell, Snuffy Walden, and Dean Parks.

“There was always music playing in my house. My dad was a huge music fan. He had all kinds of musical interests, so I was exposed to a lot of different kinds of music.” “I studied classical music until I was about a sophomore in high school. When I was like eight or so, my dad taught me how to play guitar.

Teresa ultimately left Houston at the encouragement of Terry Wilson and his buddy Tony Braunagel, who had relocated to Los Angeles. Terry proved the perfect musical cohort for Teresa. “His songs are brilliant. I think he’s a really great songwriter. And we’ve collaborated on quite a few, but I think what I bring to his songs in the interpretation is just a good match. He knows the kinds of things that I’m going to be able to put myself into to expand them,” she says. “Over the years, we have definitely developed a partnership that works.” Her band, The Rhythm Tramps, consists of world class players.

In 1998, The Rhythm Tramps released their debut album, The Whole Enchilada, on Jesilu Records, with Teresa and Terry’s studio cohorts including guitarists Watts, Schell, and Bruton. Braunagel and Herman Matthews manned the drums. Subsequent releases include Live (2000), Oh Yeah! (2003), The Rhythm Method (2004), and The Bottom Line in 2007. “The Bottom Line is a really good one,” says Teresa. "We still do most of the songs on that album, and that was the one where we got the BMA nomination". Next up was Country by Request (2008), followed by 2010's You Know You Love It, Come On Home in 2012, Bonafide in 2016, and Here in Babylon in 2018, which was mixed by Ed Cherney with Jay Bellerose on drums.

James sang back-up on Randy Newman's song "Putin" from his 2017 album, Dark Matter.

Video Premiere: “Takes One To Know One” by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps

We are pleased to exclusively premiere the video "Takes One To Know One" by Teresa James & The Rhythm Tramps, a video/single from the forthcoming album, Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 out September 17, 2021 on Blue Heart Records.

Teresa James says, “Terry and I have been musical partners for 30 years and life partners for almost as long. After marriage, kids, countless bands, tours, gigs and records, it’s safe to say that if it takes one to know one, he’s the one for me! We are proud to feature the guitar work of Anson Funderburgh, who is such an iconic part of our Texas musical family, on this track. This song is one of many co-writes by frequent collaborators Terry Wilson and Gregg Sutton. Although Anson wasn’t able to be with us for the live video, our long-time Rhythm Tramps guitarist Billy Watts, a brilliant player in his own right, stepped in and brought his own magic to this video recording.”

James and her partner in crime, Terry Wilson, who produced the album, wrote/co-wrote all the songs, were once again joined by a splendid cast of characters that make up The Rhythm Tramps, along with some special guests. Mainstay guitarist Billy Watts, bassist Wilson and alternating drummers, Jay Bellerose and Herman Matthews, maintain the rhythm section, with a selection of exceptional Texas guitar players such as Yates McKendree, Anson Funderburgh, Johnny Lee Schell, Lee Roy Parnell, and Snuffy Walden in the mix. They are joined by Paulie Cerra and Darrell Leonard on horns, with vocalists Richard Millsap, Nikki Bluhm, Michael Star on violin, and Kevin McKendree on keys. The project, recorded over a year and a half in California, has that undeniable smooth West Coast Canyon Country sound.

Rose Colored Glasses, Vol. 1 is the latest release by Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps. It’s an optimistic release that’s full of songs full of strength, romance, redemption, and love.

For five decades Teresa Jones and her partner Terry Wilson have written and played together with a vast ensemble of musicians known The Rhythm Tramps. Rose Colored Glasses vol. 1 continues that tradition and features an array of exceptional Texan musicians each bringing their own individual style to the album.

Highlights include the horn-driven ‘Takes One To Know One’, where James’ vocals mix beautifully with sublime guitar work by Anson Funderburgh. The soulful opener ‘Show Me How You Do It’ is a sultry delight. Mixing horns and hypnotic beats on ‘I Got A Love I Wanna Hold Onto’, James sings seductively about the delights of love.

As with the songwriting, the production duties on the album are shared between James and Wilson, and the results are just beautiful. The musical arrangements, in particular the brass and percussion, are delightful, harking back to the golden age of Stax and Chess Studios, resulting in music that’s as smooth as silk.

You Know You Love It review

Teresa James is a very talented singer and pianist whose choices in blues-based music and especially sidemen for this recording are immaculate. Blessed with a powerful and flexible voice, James rips through this upbeat set of original tunes primarily written by her bassist Terry Wilson. Recorded in California, James and her crew take Southern-style blues to heart, reflecting the steamy, cooking values of New Orleans-to-Memphis music with an occasional horn complement, a little good old rock & roll, and soul. James is not so much a temptress as a good-time gal, belting out funk like "She Don't Mess with His Buzz," rocking out the title track, or digging into pure, slow swamp blues as on "You Got Me Where It Hurts." No two tunes are alike, and James and her Rhythm Tramps explore old time pop/rock, accordion-driven boogaloo, voodoo-distorted underground sounds, a gospel ballad, and even honky tonk. It's hard to say what she's best at, because she does it all with the ease and clarity of a seasoned pro. Her working band, led by Wilson, is solid, but she adds on all-stars like pianists Jon Cleary or Steve Moos, organists Mike Finnegan or John "Rabbit" Bundrick, and drummer Tony Braunagel to the fray. Teresa James also plays a very competent piano, the Wurlitzer, or spinet upright on just about every track. This recording is something of a sleeper for those nationwide who don't know about Teresa James but who should get hip to her right quick.

American singer and keyboardist from Houston, Texas, based in Los Angeles, California. Married to Terry Wilson.

Home Base: Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Texas style blues with a Southern roots/Americana flavor

Category Submitted: Blues Album

Work Submitted: Come on Home

Artists Featured: Mike Finnegan and Tony Braunagel (The Phantom Blues Band), Jon Cleary (pianist), Herman Matthews and Jim Christie (drums), Debra Dobkin (percussion), Lee Thornburg (trumpet) Jerry Peterson (sax) along with the fabulous Mingo Fishtrap Horns; David P. Jackson in a brief appearance on accordian; and, of course we feature our very own Rhythm Tramp, the wonderful Billy Watts (guitar).

What’s the meaning of your band name?: We’ve had this name for a long time – it started years ago when some of the band guys were living in London. Between tours they used the name, ‘the Rhythm Tramps’, when they played in little blues clubs, There were always lots of friends sitting in and different band members depending on who was off the road at the time. Through the years we have had lots of players and friends play with us, too, so the name just seemed to fit. Definitely a better name than ‘T-Bird & the Moonpies’ which we using for a while….

Describe your nominated work: This is our 8th CD. All of our CDs (except for 1 straight out country CD) are a mix of blues and r&b with a strong Texas/Louisiana roots feel – always very song oriented. This one has a bit of a rawer feel and a little more edge overall, I think.

Why did you choose to submit this work to The 12th IMA’s?: We wanted to see how it stacked up with the other works.

Our Kickstarter campaign for all their help in getting this out.

Teresa James was born and raised in Houston, Texas, where she was introduced to music at an early age by her father and grandfather. She starting playing piano at five years old.

Blues Matters! magazine in the UK is quoted “the girls voice does the talking alright with a knife edge when she wants rip your ears off or your heart out!”

Levon Helm said “Teresa James is a true original. When she sings you can feel it in your bones.”

They now have had 11 albums released. All backed by husband led, bassist, songwriter, producer Terry Wilson & their band, the Rhythm Tramps.

DownBeat magazine has given Teresa and the band four 4 Star reviews in a row of her last four albums. Of her tenth CD 2019 Here in Babylon they said "Texas-raised Californian James has during the past several years been one of the genre’s blue-ribbon singers. She exudes largeness of spirit and interpretative authority by way of her natural, wide-ranging voice".

Here’s a little of what Bill Bentley from Sonic Boomers said about Teresa and her sixth release, “You Know You Love It” cd. “This is the stuff they don't teach you in school….. These are the keepers of the unknown language. Teresa’s voice is all-knowing, like she's been to the places most of us aren't able to go. It is a mixture of rejection and redemption, … be glad there are still people like Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps who care enough to do this and share their spirits. Each and every one of them should receive a letter jacket with a big "S" for soul on it. Class dismissed. “

Houston born now California based Teresa James and her deeply soulful pipes and keyboards takes different variations of her band through their paces at one of their favorite California venues Bogie’s.

“In The Pink” gets things off on the good foot as Teresa expounds on the healing powers of the blues. She leads the band through The Five Royals’ jump boogie “I Like It Like That” with her barrelhouse piano. “Put The Squeeze On Me” and “Don’t Make A Habit Of It” are both ballads with the former being more intense. Another ballad “Forgetting You” tenderly tugs at the heart strings with the yearning vocal delivery. “Easier Said Than Done” is a tight and smooth slice of R&B.

Guitarist Billy Watts steps up to the plate for a fiery duet on Etta James' "If I Can't Have You". Watts also contributes a stinging guitar solo. They turn in a worthy version of Allen Toussaint’s funky ""Shoorah! Shoorah!"" allowing Teresa to show off her piano skills. Billy Watts adds his blues guitar to the tale of the passing of Gregg Allman “The Day The Blues Came To Call”.

Pianist and vocalist Teresa James is back with her band, The Rhythm Tramps, for her tenth album, Here in Babylon. Since it’s release on March 3, it went to number five on the National Blues Chart. Teresa’s 2008 release, The Bottom Line, garnered her a nomination by a Blues Music Award for 'Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year' and her 2010 CD, You Know You Love it, was a finalist for an Independent Music Award.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Teresa is based in Los Angeles, where she has assembled a group of some of the top touring and session musicians for her band, The Rhythm Tramps. They have been working the LA area and at blues festivals and clubs throughout the US and Europe for many years.

Discography

Albums

Year	Title	Label	Billing
1998	The Whole Enchilada	Jesilu Records	Teresa James
2000	Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps: Live	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2003	Oh Yeah!	Jesilu Records	Teresa James
2004	The Rhythm Method	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2006	The Bottom Line	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2008	Country By Request	Jesilu Records	Teresa James
2010	You Know You Love It	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2012	Come on Home	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2016	Bonafide	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2018	Here in Babylon	Jesilu Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2019	Live!	Self-released	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps
2021	Rose-Colored Glasses, Vol. 1	Blue Heart Records	Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps

External links

• Official website
• Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps: "Come Up and See Me Sometime" video @ YouTube

Category:American blues rock musical groups Category:American blues musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1998 Category:1998 establishments in California Category:Musical groups from California Category:Contemporary blues musicians